topic Re: Prevent scientific notation being converted to numeric in proc import CSV in SAS Programming

Prevent scientific notation being converted to numeric in proc import CSV

pjy1006 — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 05:46:00 GMT

I used proc import to import data from csv file. For some long numeric columns ( for ex, 456789123), csv shows scientific notation(for ex, 4.20E+8). So when SAS reads in CSV, it is converted to 400000000 (instead of the original, correct number = 456789123). I want to add a data quality checking step to alert myself that CSV actually is a scientific notation. How can I have SAS show that column as 4.20E+8 (that way, I will be able to pop up an error message for myself)?

proc import datafile = "inputfile.csv"
out = outds
dbms = csv replace;
getnames = YES;

run;

Re: Prevent scientific notation being converted to numeric in proc import CSV

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 05:56:54 GMT

Whenever importing data gets complicated (read: ALWAYS), do not use proc import, but write your own data step. In that, you can read this column into a temporary character variable, check for the notation, and then either convert to the final numeric variable (if no scientific notation) or set a flag.

Re: Prevent scientific notation being converted to numeric in proc import CSV

hashman — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 06:38:08 GMT

@Kurt_Bremser:

"do not use proc import, but write your own data step"

You've said a mouthful!